boon
- 01 C2 Proficiency
n.a favor or a gift that someone asks for or receives.
n.a favor or request that is granted as a benefit.
Simple“The king granted the knight a boon for his brave service.”
In context“In ancient myths, heroes often undergo trials to earn a single boon from the gods.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is mostly found in historical fiction, mythology, or very formal literature.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
adj.used in the phrase 'boon companion' to mean a very close and fun friend.
adj.jovial or convivial; almost exclusively used in the fixed collocation 'boon companion'.
Simple“The two men had been boon companions since their university days.”
In context“He was known as a boon companion in the local taverns, always ready with a story and a laugh.”
UsageUsually restricted to the phrase 'boon companion'.
“So, getting Starship back in one piece is a boon.”
“This extraordinary diversity could be a boon for medicine.”
From Middle English boon (“prayer”), from Old Norse bón (“prayer, petition”), from Proto-Germanic *bōniz (“supplication”), influenced by boon (“good, favorable”, adjective). Doublet of ben; see there for more.
From Middle English boon, bone, borrowed from Old Northern French boon, from Old French bon (“good”), from Latin bonus (“good”), from Old Latin duonus, dvenos, from Proto-Indo-European *dū- (“to respect”).
From Middle English bone (“reed, stem, husk”), akin to or alteration of Old English bune (“reed; drinking cup”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.